n take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. (Calvin Coolidge)

As I write this, in my time zone we are about nine and a half hours away from a brand new year. I am reminded of a quote from Anne of Green Gables, when she says that, “today is a new day with no mistakes in it.” While her teacher was quick to add, “well, no mistakes in it yet, anyway,” an acknowledgement of the vast ability we humans have to fall and mess up at an alarming rate, still I find the sentiment encouraging and applicable to tonight’s celebrations. It’s a new year, with no mistakes in it.

I will make some resolutions today, in spite of the fact that we humans also have a tremendous capacity to break those at an alarming rate. Some I have made many times before, and some will be new. The biggest one will be to, along with the rest of my church, read through the entire Bible in 2012. This resolution I have made before too, and sometimes kept it until as late as April or May before falling off, but this time I am not alone which always helps.

Another resolution will be to do everything in my power to make The Child-Snatchers as excellent as possible, and then to try to find a home for it. The sequel is already pretty much written in my head, so I will also be resolving to get that down on paper some time before the end of this year too. With that in mind, and as a salute to all those who, against the odds and at great risk to their self-esteem and confidence, will put pen to paper this year and attempt to get the words and the stories that God has given them out there where others can read them, I would like to re-post the following prayer from my former blog:

Author’s Prayer
by Sara Davison

Father God, maker of heaven and earth,
Who communicated with us through words engraved in stone by your own mighty hand,
And gave us words, inspired and God-breathed, so that we might know you, and know the plan and purpose you have for our lives.
We thank you for the gift of creating, and accept it as a sacred trust,
Praying that, as we use it, we will reflect and bring glory to you, our Creator God.
May you bless the words we have written,
And use them to touch the hearts and lives of those who read them.
And above all, may they bring glory and honour to the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.

Because it is in His name we pray,
Amen

Press on, my friends. Press on – and may God bless and guide you and your words in the year ahead!